The Nigerian government announced the release of more than 300 kidnapping victims Wednesday, including 163 taken from a single village in the west of the country earlier this year. Kidnapping for ransom by criminal groups, jihadists and non-ideological gangs known as bandits has become a major crisis in Nigeria, especially areas with little state presence in the north and centre of the country. Accept Manage my choices One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. Try again Cover image: Nigeria Kidnappings © France24 02:21In February, suspected jihadists attacked the village of Woro, Kwara state, near the border with Benin, killing more than 150 people and kidnapping roughly the same amount. Media reports had put the number of those kidnapped at 176 – though as recently as Friday the police in Kwara state said that number was unsubstantiated.